Nectarine tree named ‘Western Bright’

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a nectarine tree,  Prunus persica,  and more particularly to a new and distinct variety broadly characterized by a medium size, vigorous, hardy, self-fertile, productive and regular bearing tree. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described in mid June, with the first picking on Jun. 11, 2004. The fruit is uniformly large in size, mildly acidic and sweet in flavor, globose in shape, clingstone in type, firm in texture, yellow in flesh color, and virtually full red in skin color. The variety was developed as a first generation cross using ‘Diamond Ray’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,948) yellow flesh nectarine as the selected seed parent and an unnamed yellow flesh clingstone nectarine as the selected pollen parent.

Latin name: Prunus persica.

Varietal denomination: ‘Western Bright’.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

In a continuing effort to improve the quality of shipping fruits, I, theinventor, typically hybridize a large number of peach, nectarine, plum,apricot, and cherry seedlings each year. The present invention relatesto a new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, which has beendenominated varietally as ‘Western Bright’. The present variety washybridized by me in 1996, grown as a seedling on its own root in mygreenhouse, and transplanted to a cultivated area of my experimentalorchard at Bradford Farms near Le Grand, Calif. in Merced County (SanJoaquin Valley). The variety was developed as a first generation crossusing ‘Diamond Ray’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,948) yellow flesh nectarineas the selected seed parent and an unnamed yellow flesh clingstonenectarine (unpatented) as the selected pollen parent. A single tree fromthe stated cross was selected as the claimed variety. Subsequent toorigination of the present variety of nectarine tree, I asexuallyreproduced it by budding and grafting in the experimental orcharddescribed above, and such reproduction of plant and fruitcharacteristics were true to the original plant in all respects. Thereproduction of the variety included the use of ‘Nemaguard’ (unpatented)rootstock upon which the present variety was compatible and true totype.

The present variety is most similar to its selected seed parent,‘Diamond Ray’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,948) nectarine, by producingnectarines that are large in size, nearly globose in shape, very firm intexture, clingstone in type, yellow in flesh color, and nearly full redin skin color, but is distinguished therefrom by having globose insteadof reniform leaf glands, by having a bitter instead of sweet kernel, andby producing fruit that has less skin freckling and that ripens about 12days earlier.

SUMMARY OF VARIETY

In summary, the present variety is characterized by a medium size,vigorous, hardy, self-fertile, productive and regular bearing tree. Thefruit matures under the ecological conditions described in the mid June,with the first picking on Jun. 11, 2004. The fruit is uniformly large insize, mildly acidic and sweet in flavor, globose in shape, clingstone intype, firm in texture, yellow in flesh color, and virtually full red inskin color. The variety was developed as a first generation cross using‘Diamond Ray’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,948) yellow flesh nectarine as theselected seed parent and an unnamed yellow flesh clingstone nectarine asthe selected pollen parent.

DRAWING

The accompanying photograph exhibits four whole fruits positioned todisplay the characteristics of the skin color and form, one fruitdivided transversely to the suture plane to reveal the flesh and stone,and typical leaves.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Referring now more specifically to the pomological characteristics ofthis new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, the following has beenobserved under the ecological conditions prevailing near Le Grand,Merced County (San Joaquin Valley), Calif. and was developed at thestate of full ripeness on Jun. 20, 2004, on the original tree during itseighth growing season. It is to be noted that the 2004 stone fruitseason was abnormally early in maturing times for all varieties, thusskewing the starting calendar dates approximately two weeks forward. Allmajor color code designations are by reference to the Inter-SocietyColor Council, National Bureau of Standards. Common color names are alsoused occasionally.

TREE

-   Size: Medium, reaching and maintaining a height of 12′ [3.7 m.] and    a spread of 10′ [3.1 m.] after eight growing seasons utilizing    typical dormant pruning.-   Vigor: Vigorous, responding typically to irrigation and    fertilization. The variety grows about 3′ [0.91 m.] of surplus    top-growth during the spring and summer. The plant should be grown    on a standard commercial rootstock for production purposes.-   Growth: Spreading and dense.-   Form: Pruned to be vase formed.-   Hardiness: Hardy with respect to central California winters.-   Heat tolerance: Observed to perform adequately in typical central    California climatic conditions, which typically include prolonged    periods of heat.-   Drought tolerance: Variety is developed for commercial orchards and    requires regular irrigation.-   Production: Very productive, thinning usually necessary.-   Fertility: Self-fertile.-   Bearing: Regular bearer with no alternate bearing observed.-   Trunk:    -   -   Size.—Medium, reaching a diameter of 4⅞″ [124 mm.] measured            12″ above the ground after the eighth growing season.        -   Texture.—Shaggy.        -   Bark color.—A Grayish brown [61. gy.Br] and Dark yellowish            brown [78. d.yBr] variegation.        -   Lenticels.—Approximate Number Per Square Inch: 8. Color:            Light yellowish brown [76. l.yBr]. Average Size: ⅜″ [9.5            mm.]. Shape: Eye-shaped to elongated.-   Branches:    -   -   Size.—Diameter of the main scaffold is 3″ [76 mm.] measured            12″ above the crotch, diameter of typical limb is 2¼″ [57            mm.] measured 12″ above the first fork, typical of Prunus            persica, and dependent upon cultural practices and climatic            conditions.        -   Texture.—Smooth on first year wood, increasing roughness            with age.        -   Color.—1st Year Wood Topside: Grayish red [19. gy.R]. 1st            Year Wood Underside: Brilliant yellow green [116. brill.YG].            Older Wood: Deep yellowish brown [75. deep yBr].        -   Lenticels.—Number Per Square Inch: More than 40 on second            year wood. Color: Moderate orange yellow [71. m.OY]. Typical            size: 1/16″ [1.6 mm.] to 3/16″ [4.8 mm.]. Shape: Eye-shaped            to elongated.-   Leaves:    -   -   Size.—Medium. Average Length: 5⅞″ [149 mm.]. Average width:            1⅝″ [41 mm.].        -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Thickness.—Medium.        -   Form.—Elliptical.        -   Apex.—Acutely pointed.        -   Base.—Acute with an average base angle of 75 degrees.        -   Surface.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Dorsal Surface: Dark olive green [126. d.OlG].            Ventral Surface: Moderate yellow green [120. m.YG].        -   Margin.—Finely serrate.        -   Venation.—Pinnately net veined.        -   Vein color.—Light yellow green [119. l.YG].        -   Petiole.—Average Length: ⅜″ [9.5 mm.]. Average Thickness:            1/16″ [1.6 mm.]. Color: Light yellow green [119. l.YG].        -   Stipules.—Number: 2 per leaf, up to 6 per growing tip.            Average Length: ¼″ [6.4 mm.]. Color: Very yellow green [115.            v.YG] becoming Dark yellowish brown [78. d.yBr] with            maturity.        -   Glands.—Number: 2 to 3 per leaf. Position: Alternate,            positioned on petiole and base of leaf blade. Size: Small.            Form: Globose. Color: Pale yellow green [121. p.YG] when            young and Grayish reddish brown [46. gy.rBr] with age.        -   Leaf buds.—Medium, pointed.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Hardiness.—Hardy, with respect to central California            winters.        -   Diameter.—Typically 5/16″ [7.9 mm.] 1 week before bloom.        -   Length.—Typically ½″ [12.7 mm.] 1 week before bloom.        -   Form.—Not appressed.        -   Surface.—Pubescent.        -   Color.—Strong purplish pink [247. s.pPk].-   Flowers: Perfect, complete, perigynous, usually a single pistil,    typically thirty or more stamens, five sepals and petal locations    alternately positioned.    -   -   Type.—Showy, large.        -   Average flower diameter.—1 13/16″ [46.0 mm.].        -   Number of petals.—Usually five, with a small percentage of            double blossoms observed.        -   Petal shape.—Circular.        -   Petal margin.—Somewhat wavy.        -   Average petal diameter.—¾″ [19.1 mm.].        -   Average petal length.— 13/16″ [20.6 mm.].        -   Petal apex.—Rounded.        -   Petal base.—Rounded to slightly truncate.        -   Petal color.—Pale pink [7. p.Pk] toward the apex and Dark            purplish pink [251. d.pPk] toward the base.        -   Anther color.—Deep red [13. deep R] over a Light orange            yellow [70. l.OY] center.        -   Stigma color.—Light greenish yellow [101. l.gY].        -   Sepal color.—Very deep purplish red [257. v.deep pR].        -   Sepal length.— 9/32″ [7.2 mm.].        -   Sepal width.—¼″ [6.4 mm.].        -   Average pistil length.—⅝″ [15.9 mm.].        -   Average stamen length.— 9/16″ [14.3 mm.].        -   Fragrance.—Moderate.        -   Blooming period.—Early to medium compared with other            varieties.        -   Onset of bloom.—One percent on Feb. 25, 2004.        -   Date of full bloom.—Mar. 6, 2004.        -   Duration of bloom.—One to two weeks, dependent on ambient            temperature.        -   Number per cluster.—1 to 3 with single flowers most common.

FRUIT

-   Maturity when described: Full ripe, Jun. 22, 2004.-   Date of first picking: Jun. 13, 2004.-   Date of last picking: Jun. 24, 2004.-   Size: Uniform, large.    -   -   Average diameter axially.—2⅞″ [73.0 mm.].        -   Average diameter across suture plane.—2⅞″ [73.0 mm.].        -   Typical weight.—8.0 ounces [227 grams].-   Form: Uniform, usually symmetrical, globose.    -   -   Longitudinal section form.—Circular to somewhat oval.        -   Transverse section through diameter.—Circular.-   Suture: A moderate groove from the stem to somewhat beyond the    pistil point that is sharper and deeper toward both the stem cavity    and apex with a marked depression beyond the pistil point.-   Ventral surface: Rounded, lipped throughout on both sides, stronger    toward the apex.-   Lips: Mostly equal with a few unequal.-   Cavity: Flaring, stem markings usually present.    -   -   Depth.—½″ [12.7 mm.].        -   Breadth.—1″ [25.4 mm.].-   Base: Rounded to truncate.-   Apex: Rounded.-   Pistil point: Both apical and oblique, negligible in length,    depressed within the suture.-   Stem: Medium.    -   -   Average length.—⅜″ [9.5 mm.].        -   Average width.— 3/16″ [4.8 mm.].-   Skin:    -   -   Thickness.—Medium.        -   Surface.—Smooth.        -   Tenacity.—Tenacious to flesh.        -   Astringency.—Astringent.        -   Tendency to crack.—None observed.        -   Color.—Very dark red [17. v.d.R] smoothly blending into a            Strong red [12. s.R] background with a minor amount of Light            orange yellow [70. l.OY] freckling toward apex.-   Flesh:    -   -   Color.—Brilliant yellow [83. brill.Y] with sporadic Moderate            red [15. m.R] streaking throughout.        -   Surface of pit cavity.—Light yellow [86. l.Y] and Dark red            [16. d.R] fibers breaking when twisted from the stone.        -   Amygdalin.—Abundant.        -   Juice.—Abundant, rich.        -   Texture.—Firm, crisp and melting.        -   Fibers.—Abundant, fine.        -   Ripens.—Slightly earlier at apex.        -   Flavor.—Acidic but quite sweet, 14 brix.        -   Aroma.—Moderate.        -   Eating quality.—Very good.

STONE

-   Type: Clingstone.-   Form: Oval.-   Hilum: Narrow.-   Base: Slightly oblique.-   Apex: Acute, with a rounded protrusion about ⅛″ [3.2 mm.] in length    located at the tip.-   Sides: Slightly unequal.-   Surface: Irregularly furrowed near apex and pitted toward the base.-   Ridges: Jagged toward the base.-   External color of stone: Moderate yellowish brown [77. m.yBr].-   Pit wall color when cracked: Moderate yellowish brown [77. m.yBr].-   Cavity surface color: Strong yellowish brown [74. s.yBr].-   Average pit wall thickness: ¼″ [6.4 mm.].-   Average width: 1⅛″ [28.6 mm.].-   Average length: 1 9/16″ [39.7 mm.].-   Average breadth: ⅞″ [22.2 mm.].-   Tendency to split: Rarely observed.-   Kernel:    -   -   Form.—Oval.        -   Skin color.—Light yellow [86. l.Y].        -   Pellicle color.—Moderate yellowish brown [77. m.yBr].        -   Vein color.—Strong yellowish brown [74. s.yBr].        -   Taste.—Bitter.        -   Viable.—Yes.        -   Average width.— 9/16″ [14.3 mm.].        -   Average length.— 13/16″ [20.6 mm.].        -   Amygdalin.—Abundant.

USE

-   Market: Fresh market and long distance shipping.-   Keeping quality: Good. Fruit quality observed to remain in good    condition after 17 days in standard cold room at 36° Fahrenheit [2°    Celsius].-   Shipping quality: Good.-   Resistance to insects: No unusual susceptibilities noted.-   Resistance to diseases: No unusual susceptibilities noted.

OTHER NOTES

Although the new variety of nectarine tree possesses the describedcharacteristics under the ecological conditions at Le Grand, Calif., inthe central part of the San Joaquin Valley, it is to be expected thatvariations in these characteristics may occur when farmed in areas withdifferent climatic conditions, different soil types, and/or varyingcultural practices.

1. A new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, substantially asillustrated and described, that is most similar to its selected seedparent, ‘Diamond Ray’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,948) nectarine, byproducing nectarines that are large in size, nearly globose in shape,very firm in texture, clingstone in type, yellow in flesh color, andnearly full red in skin color, but is distinguished therefrom by havingglobose instead of reniform leaf glands, by having a bitter instead ofsweet kernel, and by producing fruit that has less skin freckling andthat ripens about 12 days earlier.